A two-axis or three-axis digitally controlled microprocessor for remotely controlling an existing manually operated geared head uses digital technology to provide full precise control of the geared head from a remote distance. Additionally, by utilizing the system's electronics, the system operator has ten gear ratios instead of the three gear ratios that typically exist in the prior art manual geared head. Another feature permits the camera operator to set four predetermined soft stop positions. The system has the capability of being able to record the X/Y/Z position precisely and to precisely duplicate the same camera motion repeatedly. The system is very simple and ergonomically advantageous to operate. One single umbilical cable between the controller and the geared head provides the most necessary communication between the controller and the geared head and supplies power to the camera.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system for converting manually controlled geared heads for motion picture and electronic medium cameras to remotely controlled geared heads, comprising: an electronic interface for attachment to an existing geared head for a motion picture or electronic medium camera, wherein the existing geared head comprises a manual pan gear drive interface and a manual tilt gear drive interface; a tilt motor assembly mechanically attachable to the geared head through said manual tilt gear drive interface and electronically attachable to the electronic interface, said tilt motor assembly comprising a handwheel; a pan motor assembly mechanically attachable to the geared head through said manual pan gear drive interface and electronically attachable to the electronic interface, said pan motor assembly comprising a handwheel; and a control console electronically attachable to said electronic interface, said control console comprising a tilt motor input control and a pan motor input control.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said control console is physically spaced from said geared head when said system is in an operating configuration.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 , and further comprising a record/playback module.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a video monitor for use with said control console.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said handwheels are handwheels which were originally attached to said geared head through each of said manual pan gear drive interface and said manual tilt gear drive interface, respectively, such that the existing geared head was manually controllable by said handwheels in pan and tilt.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 , and further comprising control inputs for establishing soft stops for limiting the pan and tilt motions of the geared head.
7. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein said control inputs for establishing soft stops includes software and a plurality of switches on said control console.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said tilt motor assembly comprises a shaft for engagement with the manual tilt gear drive interface of the existing geared head.
9. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said pan motor assembly comprises a shaft for engagement with the manual pan gear drive interface of the existing geared head.
10. Apparatus for converting manually controlled geared heads for motion picture and electronic medium cameras to electronic remotely controlled geared heads, comprising: a tilt motor assembly attached to a manual tilt drive interface of a geared head; a pan motor assembly attached to a manual pan drive interface of the geared head; and a system for establishing soft stops for limiting the pan and tilt travel of said geared head, said system comprising software and a plurality of control inputs for actuation by an operator.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein said plurality of control inputs are disposed on a control panel and each of said control inputs operates to establish a soft stop for the geared head in one direction of travel.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein said soft stops are established by first moving the geared head to desired travel limits so that the computer software learns those limits.
13. A system for controlling geared heads for motion picture and electronic medium cameras, comprising: a geared head for controlling the movement of a camera attached thereto in the pan and tilt directions, said geared head comprising a tilt drive gear mechanism having an interface for engaging a first handwheel adapted to manually actuate said tilt drive gear mechanism, and a pan drive gear mechanism having an interface for engaging a second handwheel adapted to manually actuate said pan drive gear mechanism; a tilt motor assembly attached to the tilt drive gear mechanism in place of the first handwheel; a pan motor assembly attached to the pan drive gear mechanism in place of the second handwheel; and a control console attached to said tilt motor assembly and said pan motor assembly, said control console being physically spaced and separate from said geared head and comprising a tilt motor input control and a pan motor input control.
14. The system as recited in claim 13 , and further comprising a video monitor for use with said control console.
15. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said tilt motor input control and said pan motor input control each comprise a handwheel.
16. The system as recited in claim 13 , and further comprising control inputs for establishing soft stops for limiting the pan and tilt motions of the geared head.
17. The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein said control inputs for establishing soft stops includes software and a plurality of switches on said control console.
18. A method of converting an existing manual geared head for a motion picture or electronic medium camera to a remotely controlled motorized geared head, comprising: a) replacing manual control inputs for pan and tilt gear mechanisms in said geared bead with motorized control inputs; and b) attaching a control console to said motorized control inputs.
19. The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein said manual control inputs comprise hand wheels operably attached to said geared head through a manual pan gear drive interface and a manual tilt gear drive interface, respectively.
20. The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein said motorized control inputs comprise a pan motor assembly and a tilt motor assembly, respectively.
21. The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein said attaching step comprises attaching said control console to an electronic interface, which is, in turn, attached to said motorized control inputs.
22. The method as recited in claim 18 , and Her comprising setting soft stops for limiting the range of motion of said geared head in the pan and/or tilt direction by: c) moving the geared head moving the geared head to its desired final position in any direction while depressing a soft stop control switch corresponding to that direction; and d) memorizing said desired final position using software adapted for such a purpose.
23. A method of converting an existing manual geared head for a motion picture or electronic medium camera to a remotely controlled motorized geared head, comprising: a) disabling inputs for manually controlling pan and tilt gear mechanisms in said geared head; b) attaching motorized pan and tilt control inputs to said geared head; and c) attaching a control console to said motorized pan and tilt control inputs.
24. The method as recited in claim 23 , wherein said disabling step comprises removing said inputs for manually controlling said pan and tilt gear mechanisms.
25. The method as recited in claim 24 , wherein said inputs comprise hand wheels.
26. The method as recited in claim 25 , and further comprising a step of attaching said hand wheels to said control console for remotely controlling pan and tilt, respectively, through said motorized pan and tilt control inputs.
27. The method as recited in claim 23 , wherein said motorized pan and tilt control inputs comprise, respectively, a pan motor assembly and a tilt motor assembly.
28. The method as recited in claim 23 , wherein said control console attaching step further comprises electronically attaching an electronic interface to said motorized pan and tilt control inputs, and electronically attaching said electronic interface to said control console.
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June 22, 2001
August 19, 2003
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